Drink vending machine



Oct. 5, 1937.

DRINK VENDING MACHINE Filed Ju1`y15, 1933 4 sheets-sheet 1 Hill# a. E. MILLS 2,095,201

DRINK VENDIG MACHINE Filed July 15. 195s 4 sheets-snee; -2

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oct. 5, 1937. B'. E. MILLS DRINK VENDING .MACHINE Filed'auly 1s, las 4 sham-sheet s 'l od. s, 1937.

B. E. MILLS' DRINK VENDING MACHINE Filed July 15, 1933 't 4 Sheets-Sheet 4lV tion.

- trol device and the UNITED Bert E. Mins, oak Park, nl.,

Novelty Company, Chicago, lll.,

STATES DRINK VENDING MACHINE of Illinois assignor to Mills a corporation .Application July 15, 1933, Serial No. 680,613

12 Claims.

This invention relates to vendingmachines and vmore particularly to av machine for vending measured quantities of. liquid such as orange drinks or other beverages An important object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character in which the quantity of liquid to be .dispensed can be accurately controlled and can be readily varied by the proprietor of the machine to adapt the sameto the sale of drinks of different value or to increase or decrease drink to be sold for a coin A further object of the the quantityl of. the of a givendenominainvention is the provision of a machine of the type described in which provision is made for automatically positioning a cup to receive the drink just prior to the'dispensingof the latter and for coordinating the positioning of the cup with the operation of a valve for controlling the drawing of a measured quantity of the liquid from a source of supply and for the discharging of the same into the cup. Y

. Other objects 1 and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

l Referring to the drawings: Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my invention is embodied;

a machine in which pensed on each operation be `controlled;

of the machine may Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the section line 3-3 in Fig. l;

Fig. 4V is asectional detail takenl substantially along the line 4-4 in Fig.

Fig'. 5 is an elevational view of the coin contermining the time during timing mechanism. for dewhich the measuring chamber is in communication with the source of supply upon each operation of. the machine;

and

Fig. 6 is a detail view ofthe timing mechanism.

.Upon said drawings the reference numeral II indicates a cabinet inthe upper part of which thereis positioned a liquid container I2 which is open at the top to receive the neck I3 of a bottle I4 which rests upon a, resilient rim I5 provided at the mouth of the container -I2 and (ci. zza-21) disposed in a central opening in a sloping top portion I6 of the cabinet II.

The container .I2 is communicably connected by a p ipe I1 with a valve I8 contained in a housing I9 supported from the sideof the cabinet, 5 said pipe being threaded into an opening 2| in the -vertical wall of the container I2 near the bottom thereof and extending through the wall of the cabinet II upon which there is provided a boss 22 which is internally screw threaded to '10 receive a threaded projection 23 on the valve housing I9, said projection having an opening 24 therein in which an end of. the pipe I1 is positioned. An inlet opening 25 leads from the opening 24 to the valve chamber.

Above the valve I8 is a measuring chamber or cup 26 supported in a base member 21 Awhich is seated in the top of the valve housing I9 and -has a central opening 28 communicating with the valve chamber. l

A coin-operated mechanism for controlling the operation of the machine is mounted on the back Voi a plate 29 secured to the front of the cabinet II. A coin slot 3l is provided in the plate and a rotatable operating ,lever or handle 25 32 protrudes from the front ofsaid plate. A

Upon insertion of a coin in said slot it enters a rotatable carrier (not shown) and, upon rotation of the handle 32, serves'to turn -a gear 33 shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The de- 30 tails of the coin actuating mechanism are not shown since they forni no part of the present invention. They are fully illustrated in Patent No. 1,869,616 granted Aug. 2, 1932 on an application of BrunoRadtke, which by the applicants assignee. p

Rotation of the gear 33 causes one of two pins 34, 34. thereon, acting upon a cam portion 35 of a lever 36 to turn said lever incounterclockwise direction on its pivot 31 (see Figs. 3 and 4) 40 The lower end of said lever carries a pin 38 ex- I tending through a slot 39 in the casing and connecting with a b ar 4I `extending through a channel 42 cast in the boss 22, Vsaid bar connecting at its opposite end with a lever 43 which is 4b pivoted at 44 to the frame and is adapted to ac- 4tuate an arm 45 of a cup tripping mechanism indicated generally at 46 in Fig. 3 of the drawings. This mechanism is of known construction and is not illustrated in detail, it being noted merelyl 5D that it consists of a series of slides 41 adapted to support a stack of cups 48 in a chute 49 and -being operable upon each actuation of the lever 43 to release one cup and engage beneath the next succeeding one, the released cup being directed 5 5 patent .is owned 35 thereon near its pivoted end,

down an inclined guideway 5| to a holder beneath the valve housing I9.

The gear 33 meshes with a smaller gear 53 (see pin 54 engages a cam 55 which is pivoted at 56 to the frame and forces the same downwardly, thereby actuating a bar 51 which is connected at one end to the end of said cam and at the other e d to a lever 58 which serves to turn the gears of a clock mechanism mounted between the plate 29 and a plate 59 supported from said plate 29 by posts 6|. 'I'his action is accomplished by means of a paul 62 pivotally mounted on the lever 58 and held by a at spring 63 in engagement with a ratchet wheel 64 mounted on a shaft 65 which also supports the lever forming a part-of the clock mechanism.

'Ihe cam member 55 has a cam 61 formed which cam engages a tail part 68 on a locking lever 69 which is pivoted at 1| to the frame. Upon downward movement of the member 55 said locking lever is permitted to rise under the influence of a spring 12 connected at one end to a hook 13 on the upper side of said lever and at the other end to a lug 14 on the frame. Meantime one of the pins 34 or 34 has moved against a lever 15 having an arcuate cam portion 16 engageable by said pin, said lever being thereby moved downwardly, turning on its pivot 11 against the tension of a spring 18 connected at one end to a tail part 19 on said lever and at the other end to a lug 8| on the frame. Said lever 15 has a tooth 82 on its underside adapted to be engaged by a lateral projection 83 on the lever 89 when said lever 15 has been moved downwardly-to the lower end of its stroke. Said projection 83 has ratchet teeth 84 thereon cooperating with said tooth 82 to prevent release oi' the lever 15 until the lever 69 has again ner which will presently be described.

'I'he upper end of the arm 15 is connected with a bar 85 which, at its opposite end, connects with a crank 86 on a shaft 81 (see Fig. 3) which is rotated against the tension of a spring 98 mounted thereon and operates the valve I8, turning the a quarter turn from the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby causing a passageway 88 to be brought into registration with the inthe` valve casing I9-and causing a passageway 89 in said valve head to register with the opening 28 in the base member of the measuring cup 26. Communication is thus established between the container I2 and said cup and the cup is filled to a predetermined point, the liquid being forced through the pipe I1 by the head pressure in said container I2,

For the purpose of accurately controlling the amount of liquid admitted to the measuring cup 26 I provide a breather tube 9| extending through a cover member 92 on said cup and having an air tight fit therewith provided by a packing gland 93. Said tube has a very small passageway 94 therein so that the liquid entering the tube to seek the level in the container l2 will 58 and a gear 66' been moved downwardly in man- It will be recalled that prior to the turning of the valve I8 to establish communication between the container I 2 and measuring cup26 the gears of the clock mechanism have been turned by the downward movement of the cam member 55 acting upon the bar 51 and lever 58. When the pin 54 on the gear 53 has passed beyond said cam member 55 the latter is drawn upwardly by means of a spring 95 connected at one end to a lug 96 on said member and at the other end to the lug 14 on the frame. This movement, however, is retarded and the time thereof determined by a pendulum 91 depending from a member 98 pivoted on one of the posts 6| and carrying a pin 99 movable into and out of engagement with a. toothed wheel |0| as the pendulum swings, 4said Wheel being mounted on a shaft |02 carrying a pinion ID3 meshing with the gear 66.

As the member 55 approaches its upper position the cam 61 thereon, acting on the tail part 68 on the lever 69, forces the latter downwardly against the tension of the spring 12 thereby releasing the lever 15 which is raised by the action of the spring 18, a. cushioned stop |04 being provided on the frame above said lever to limit the upward movement thereof. In returning to its upper position said lever 15 raises the bar 85 thereby turning the shaft 81 to move the valve |8 to the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, in which position the liquid in the measuring cup 26 is allowed to pass through the passagewayv 88 in the valve head and through an outlet opening |85 in the casing I8 into the cup 48, which has been previously positioned'to receive the drink, as above described. The valve then remains in this position until another coin is inserted and the handle 32 again operated when the cycle of operations `iust described is repeated. l

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had. to the vappended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

What I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A drink vending machine comprising a source of supply -oi' drinking cups, a source of supply of the drink, a normally-empty drink measuring receptacle having an opening in the lower end thereof through which the drink may be drained, a breather tube adjustably supported in the top of said receptacle and extending downwardly therein to a point in the plane of the desired liquid level in said receptacle, a valve housing having passages connecting with the source of supply and said opening in the measuring receptacle, a valve in said housing, and mechanical means operable through a single manual operation to successively transfer a cup from said source of cup supply to a position to -receive the drink, and to operate said valve to discharge thedrink from the measuring device into said cup.

2. A drink vending machine comprising a source of supply of drinking cups, a source of supply of the drink, a normally-empty drink measuring receptacle having an opening in the lower end thereof through which the drink may be drained, a breather tube adjustably supported in the top of said receptacle and extending downwardly therein to a point in the plane of the desired source of supply of drinking cups, a source of liquid level in said receptacle, .a valve housing having passages connecting with the source of supply and said opening in the measuringreceptacle, a valve in said housing, and mechanical means operable through a single manual operation for transferring a cup from said source-of cup supply toa position'to receive said drink and for thereafter opening said measuring receptacle to communication with said source of supply ofthe drink and for discharging the measured drink from said receptacle to the positioned cup.

3. A drink vendingv machine comprising a supply of the drink, a drink measuring receptacle having an opening inthe lower end thereof through which` the drink may be drained, a breather tube adjustably supported in the top of said receptacle and extending downwardly therein to a point in the plane of the desired liquid level in said receptacle,'a valve housing having passages connecting with the source of supply and said opening in the measuring receptacle, a valve in said housing, and mechanical means operable through a single manual operation for transferring 'a cup from said source of cup supply to a position to receive said drink and for thereafter opening said measuring receptacle to communication with said source of supply of the drink'and timing mechanism for controlling the period of time during which said measur-A ing receptacle is open to communication with said source of supply of the drink.

4. A drink vending machine comprising a source of supply of drinking cups, including a cup dispensing device, a source of supply of the drink,

a drink measuring receptacle, a valve for communicably connecting Ysaid receptacle with said source of supply of the drink, and mechanical means for transferring a cup from said source of cup supply to a position to receive the drink and for operating said valve to first open said measuring receptacle to communication with said source of vdrink supply for a predetermined period and for thereafter discharging the drink from said receptacle to the positioned cup; said means including a, manually 'rotatable shaft, means operatively connecting said shaft with the cup dispensing device, and additional means providing operative connection between saidshaft and the valve.

5. A drink vending machine comprising Va container for holding a supply of the drink, a measuring device including a cup having an opening in the lower end thereof from which thedrink may be drained, means including a valve for connecting the container with said opening in thecup to enable the latter to be lled by head pressure on the liquid in the container, means for controllingthe level of the liquid admitted to the measuring cup and maintaining it at a predetermined point below the top of the cup regardless of a higher liquid level in the container, and mechanical means including a manually rotatable shaft operatively connected with said valve for opening said receptacle to communication with said container and for thereafter discharging the contents of the measuringcup into a drinking cup positioned to receive the same.

6. A drink vending machine comprising a container for holding a supply of the drink, a liquid measuring device includinga cup adapted to be communicably connected with said container, a breather tube'extending into said cup from the top to a point in the plane of the desired liquid level in said cup, said tube having asmall opening therein in which the liquid may seek `the level of the liquid in said container withoutappreciably adding to the volume of the liquid in said cup, a

valve, for opening said measuring'cup to com.-V

munication with said container and mechanical means for causing operation of said valve after a measured time interval to dischargertne contents of said measuring cup into a drinking cupqpositioned to receive the same'.` i

7. A drink vending machine comprising, in

combination', asource of supply of drinking cups,`

including a cup dispensing` device, a' drink storage reservoir providedv with a .draw-olf pipe, a i

normally empty drink measuring receptacle having an opening in the lower end thereof, a breather tube extending into said receptacle from the top to a point in the plane of the desired liquid level in`said receptacle, a' valve housing having a discharge passage therein and additional passages therein connecting with said draw-oif pipe ber operable throughl a single manual operation for transferring a cup from the source of cup supply to a position vto receive the drink, and to operate said valve to discharge the measured drink from said receptacle into said cup, said means including a manually rotatable shaft, means operatively connecting said shaft with the cup dispensing device, and additional means provlding operative connection between said shaft and the valve.

8. A drink vendingmachine comprising, in combination, a source of supply of drinking cups, including a cup dispensing device, a drink storage reservoir provided with'a draw-olf pipe, a normally empty drink measuring receptacle havingy an opening in the lower end thereof, a breather tubel extending into said receptacle from the top to a point in the plane of the desired liquid level in said receptacle, said tube having a small openingtherein in which the liquid may seek the level of the liquid in said container without appreciably adding to the volume of the liquidy a valve in said housing adapted in one position to connect'said draw-olf pipe with the measuring receptacle and inthe other. position to -Aconnect the latter" with the discharge passage in saidl housing, `and means including an ,actuating member operable througha single manual operation for transferring a cup from the source of c'up supply to a position to receive the drink. and to operate said valve to discharge the measured drink from said receptacle into said cup, said means including a manually rotatable shaft, means operatively connecting said shaft with the cup dispensing device, and additional means providing operative connection between said shaft and the valve.

9. A drink vending machine comprising, in

combination, a sourceof supply of drinking cups,

siredfliguid level in said receptacle, a valve housing having'a discharge passage therein and additional passages therein connecting with said draw-off pipe and said opening in the measuring receptacle, a valve in said housing adapted in one position to connect said draw-ofi pipe with the measuring receptacle and in the other position to connect the latter with the discharge passage in said housing, and means including an actuating member operable through a. single manual operation for transferring a cup from the source of cup supply to a position to receive the drink and for operating said valve to rst establish connection between the storage reservoir and the measuring receptacle and to thereafter discharge the measured drink from said receptacle to the positioned cup, said means including a manually rotatable shaft, means operatively connecting said shaft with the cup dispensing device, and additional means providing operative connection between said shaft and the valve.

10. A drink vending machine comprising, in combination, a source of supply of drinking cups, including a cup dispensing device, a drink storage reservoir provided with a draw-01T pipe, a normally empty drink measuring receptacle having an opening in the lower end thereof, a breather tube extending into said receptacle from the top to a point in the plane ofthe desired liquid level in said receptacle, a valve housing having a discharge passage therein and additional passages therein connecting with said draw-off pipe and said opening in the measuring receptacle, a valve in said housing adapted in one position to connect said draw-01T pipe with the measuring receptacle and in the other position to connect. the latter with the discharge passage in said housing, and means including an actuating member operable through a single manual operation for transferring a cup from the source of cup supply to a position to receive the drink and for operating said valve to first establish connection between the storage reservoir and the measuring receptacle and to thereafter, after a measured time interval, discharge the measured drink from said receptacle to the positioned cup, manually rotatable shaft, means operatively connecting said shaft with the cup dispensing device, and additional means providing operative connection between said shaft and the valve.

11. A drink vending machine comprising, in combination, a main .supply receptacle, a normally empty measuring cup, a faucet communieating with said cup, a valve adapted in one position to establish communication between said said means including a4 measuring cup and main source of supply, and in another position to close said line of communication and establish communication between the measuring cup and an outlet passage in the faucet, a source of supply of drinking cups, a cup holder beneath said faucet, a device for discharging individual cups from said source of supply into said cup holder, and operating mechanism including an actuating member, means operable thereby for turning said valve to establish communication between the measuring cup and the source of supply,-means also operable by said actuating member for operating said cup discharge device to position one of said individual cups beneath the faucet, andV means including a. timing device for returning said valve to its original position after a predetermined time to thereby close communication between theV measuring cup and the main source of supply and establish communication between said measuring cup and the positioned drinking cup to permit the contents of said measuring cup to discharge into the drinking cup.

12. A drink vending machine comprising, in combination, a main supply receptacle, a normally empty measuring cup, a faucet communicating with said cup, a valve adapted in one position to establish communication between said measuring cup and main source of supply, and in another position to close said line of communication and establish communication between-the measuring in the faucet, a source of supply of drinking cups, a cup holder beneath said faucet, a device for discharging individual cups from said source of supply into said cup holder, and operating mechanism. including an actuating member, means operable thereby for turning said valve to establish communication between the measuring cup and the source of supply, means also operable by said actuating member for operating said cup discharge device to position one of said individual cups beneath the faucet, means for maintaining back atmospheric pressure in the measuring/cup to limit the extent to which the cup can illl while in communication with said `source of supply, and means including a timing device for returning said valve to its original position after a predetermined time to thereby close communication between the measuring cup and themain source of supply and establish communication between said measuring cup and the positioned drinking cup to permit the contents of said measuring cup to discharge into the drinking cup.

cup and an outlet passage 

